Colonial High School

Class of 2011 graduates from Colonial Heights High School

COLONIAL HEIGHTS - Satawart Upadhyay has had a unique story, and it's only just beginning.

For the first 10 years of his life, he lived in India with his parents and four sisters, one of whom is his twin. He attended a private school, where he learned to speak Hindi and English simultaneously. That knowledge helped him assimilate into American culture when his parents decided to move the family to Virginia when he was in fifth grade.

"I'm actually glad that I grew up in India and then came here, because we got the best of both cultures," Upadhyay said.

Most would agree that he assimilated well. On Friday night, he took the stage at Colonial Heights High School's graduation ceremony as the valedictorian. With a 4.85 grade point average, he will begin college in the fall as a pre-med student.

"Here we are, ready to begin the next chapter of our lives," he told the audience as a single huge cloud turned pink at the edges and dipped below the trees on the horizon.

The school may have had one of the last graduation ceremonies in the area, but the weather couldn't have been better. The drizzle that fell a couple hours prior to the evening ceremony, though it undoubtedly made school officials nervous, only served to drop the temperature into the mid-70s.

Upadhyay, for one, was probably happy to be comfortable in his navy robe.

"No matter what path you choose or what obstacles come your way, always remember where you came from and what you have learned," Upadhyay said. "… Be proud of your heritage."

Salutatorian Ashley Napier had the same message.

"We entered as a diverse group, who over the years, have melted together as one," Napier said. "… Our class is made up of a wide range of people. … The great thing about our class is that everyone has been able to come together to make incredible things happen."

One student who added to the class's diversity was Christian Alvarez, who started at CHHS six short months ago. He came to the area from Washington State when his older brother, who he lives with, was stationed at Fort Lee.

"I can't wait to get out," Alvarez said with a grin. "For 13 years I've been waiting."

But even though this past year has been full of change for him, he said he ended up at a good school in a really tight-knit community.

"I'm happy to graduate here," Alvarez said.

While he plans on following his brother's footsteps and entering the military, other graduates want to stay closer to home for college.

Rangers open second day of draft with two-way player | Texas ...

The Texas Rangers started the second round of the amateur draft today by taking Clemson's Will Lamb, an outfielder-pitcher.

Lamb played center field for the Tigers and hit .348 in 277 at-bats. As a left-handed pitcher, Lamb was 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in 24 innings.

Lamb has told teams that he wants to be a position player. The scouting reports indicate Lamb could have a better future as a pitcher.

In the third round, the Rangers took high-school righthander Kyle Castro of Pleasant Grove, Calif. Castro, listed 6 feet 4 and 185 pounds, was 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 innings. Castro has been clear about his desire to sign a professional contract. He has no college commitment.

The Rangers' fourth-round pick may be the fastest player in the draft. Outfielder Desmond Henry, from Compton, Calif., Centennial High School, has been timed at 6.38 seconds for 60 yards. Henry, listed at 6 feet and 170 pounds, will be a project on offense as he learns how to use his speed.

In the fifth round, the Rangers selected a high-school pitcher for the third time. Righthander Brandon Woodruff, from Wheeler, Miss., is considered a raw power pitcher. Woodruff, listed at 6 feet 4 and 215 pounds, has committed to Mississippi State. As a junior, Woodruff had 100 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings.

The Rangers remaining picks today:

Sixth -- OF Derek Fisher, Lebanon, Pa., Cedar Crest, High School. Had disappointing senior season but has power potential at 6 feet 3 and 205 pound. Committed to Virginia.

Seventh -- C Max Pentecost, Winder-Barrow, Ga., High School. Had ``Tommy John'' tendon-transplant surgery in April. Athletic catcher.

Eighth -- RHP Kyle Hendricks, Dartmouth. Taken in 38th round by Los Angeles Angels out of high school in 2008.

Ninth -- OF Rashard Harlan, La Mesa, Calif., Helix Charter High School. Raw talent with plus speed and plus bat. San Diego State commitment.

10th -- C Joe Maloney, Limestone College. Switch-hitter, had 16 homers this season against NCAA Division II competition.

11th -- RHP Connor Sadzeck, Howard, Texas, Junior College

12th -- LHP Greg Williams, Marshall. Little-used in college. Had 44 walks in only 62 career innings.

13th -- OF Christopher Grayson, Lee, Tenn.,University

14th -- LHP Andrew Faulkner, South Aiken, S.C., High School

15th -- RHP Jerad Eickhoff, Olney, Ill., Central Junior College. National JUCO strikeouts leader with 116 in 89 innings.

The Karma Club

A study of occupations of graduates of Colonial High School, 1940-1949

The Science teacher

The redirection of high-school instruction

The New international year book